Here is the biography of Lawrence Gordon:
Lawrence Gordon is a renowned producer and studio executive with a career spanning over six decades in the entertainment industry. Born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, he graduated from Tulane University and began his career in the early 1960s as an executive assistant to producer Aaron Spelling.
Gordon's early work included stints as head of West Coast talent development for ABC Television and executive with Bob Banner Associates. In 1968, he joined American International Pictures (AIP) as Story Editor and rose to Vice President in charge of development.
He then moved to Screen Gems, the television division of Columbia Pictures, where he helped produce the classic television movie "Brian's Song" and the adaptation of Leon Uris' bestseller "QB VII." Gordon returned to AIP as Executive in charge of Worldwide Production, overseeing projects such as the iconic Pam Grier starrers "Coffy" and "Foxy Brown."
In the 1970s, Gordon formed his own production company, Lawrence Gordon Productions, and produced a number of films, including "Hard Times" starring Charles Bronson and James Coburn, "Rolling Thunder" starring William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones, and "The Driver" starring Ryan O'Neal and Isabelle Adjani.
In the 1980s, Gordon reunited with Aaron Spelling to create and executive produce the long-running ABC television series "Matt Houston." He also launched the "buddy movie" genre with "48 Hrs.," starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy, and produced "Streets of Fire" starring Diane Lane and Willem Dafoe.
Gordon became President and Chief Operating Officer of Twentieth Century Fox in 1984, where he oversaw the development of several successful films, including James Cameron's "Aliens" and "Titanic." He also produced the critically acclaimed "Lucas" and gave Penny Marshall her first directing job with "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
In the 1990s, Gordon formed Largo Entertainment with the backing of JVC of Japan and produced a number of films, including "Point Break," "Unlawful Entry," and "Used People." He also co-financed and handled the foreign distribution of Spike Lee's "Malcolm X."
In 1994, Gordon left Largo and signed a long-term producing deal with Universal Pictures. His first production for Universal was the Kevin Costner starrer "Waterworld," which grossed over $300 million worldwide. He has also produced "The Devil's Own," "Event Horizon," and "Mystery Men" for Universal.
In the 2000s, Gordon produced "K-PAX," "Boogie Nights," and "Tomb Raider" for Universal and Paramount Pictures, respectively. He also produced "Hellboy" and its sequel "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" for Universal and "Watchmen" for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Throughout his career, Gordon has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Tulane University, the ShoWest Lifetime Achievement Award, and the David O. Selznick Lifetime Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America.